Radia rubbed shoulders with bigwigs to lobby for A Raja

New Delhi, Jul 15: In a fresh disclosure from the CBI, corporate lobbyist Niira Radia seem to have rubbed shoulders with politicians and industry leaders to make sure A Raja retained his Telecom portfolio post 2009 general elections. This comes as further incriminating evidence against the 2G spectrum accused.

Radia is accused of using her clout among politicians, journalists and industrialists to push Raja's case. She is believed to have made statements on such lines to the investigating agency. She lobbied heavily for the telecom portfolio be vested with A Raja. She is also worked the various permutations and combination's of the impact that Raja's induction might have with a warning issued that he stay in a distance from Anil Ambani, Reliance ADAG Chief. Radia's statements have been made a part of the CBI chargesheet on the 2G spectrum case.

Radia is also supposed to have communicated with the Chairman of Bharti Airtel, Sunil Bharti Mittal to push for Raja, an idea backed by DMK MP and now Tihar-inmate Kanimozhi. The fact that there were confusions within the Congress and the DMK on the cabinet was also given to Radia by NDTV Group Editor Barkha Dutt and other journalists who always updated her on sensitive information.

Niira Radia in her statement to the CBI said, "I state that I had this conversation with Kanimozhi Karunanidhi after results of general elections 2009. The talk was about general factionalism within DMK and the internal politics. I was suggesting to her to take a more proactive role within the party and with her father for the unity and also for her own career. We also discussed the permutation and combination about induction of A Raja as Telecom Minister."